By Phil Kitromilides

Having gained a victory the last time the teams met, our Spanish expert Phil Kitromilides believes Madrid should be backed to avoid defeat in this first leg

The 12th Clasico in the last two years sees these two rivals meet in what would otherwise be a fairly meaningless fixture against another opponent.

The Spanish Super Cup effectively means extremely little, but when it sees Barcelona and Real Madrid pitted against one another, it becomes more than merely a curtain raiser to the season, and turns into a vital encounter in the constant battle to gain the psychological advantage.

Barcelona have of course, in recent years, had the upper hand both psychologically and in footballing terms, with Madrid recording just one victory in their last 15 encounters.

Given that the last seven Clasicos have seen both teams score, it is hardly surprising to find a repeat offered at 8/15 (1.53). The odds are not huge but for punters looking to invest in a relatively low risk bet this looks like a wise selection.

For those with a more casual approach, the price of 19/20 (1.95) on "Real Madrid or Draw" looks to offer some considerable value in the double chance market.

Though Madrid's recent record in this fixture is far from impressive, crucially the last time the sides met, back in April, it was Los Blancos who earned the victory with the 2-1 win at the Camp Nou all but sealing their 32nd League title.

The psychological barrier has been broken and Madrid under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, the master of the two legged tie, are more than capable of coming away from Catalunya with at least a draw.

In terms of a value bet, the price of 10/3 (4.33) for Madrid to win the first half looks tempting, given that this bet has paid out in two of the last three Clasicos.